Cary-Grove turns up the offense in 4th straight win

After a less-than-stellar offensive effort in which Cary-Grove didn't score a touchdown in a 6-0 win over Prairie Ridge last week, Trojans' coach Brad Seaburg realized much better production was needed this week.

Done.

Scoring on its first 6 possessions of the game and compiling 478 yards of total offense with 27 first downs, the Trojans celebrated homecoming by steamrolling McHenry 48-14 in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play at Cary-Grove's Al Bohrer Field Saturday afternoon.

"We believe we left points out on the field last week against Prairie Ridge," said Seaburg. 'We didn't finish drives with points. Give PR some credit for that. Today, we sustained drives and finished drives with points. Our offensive line blocked well and they followed their blocking schemes. We started fast and set the tempo. It was a good offensive effort."

On its first drive of the game, aided by a 49-yard run by freshman Tyler Pennington, the defending Class 6A state runner-up Trojans (4-2, 4-0), who have won 4 straight and now stand one win from becoming playoff eligible, marched 75 yards on 6 plays capped by a 2-yard run by Jason Gregoire.

Cary-Grove scored right before the end of the first quarter when Zach McQuade, returning from an injury, scored on a 4-yard run with 30.4 seconds left.

The Trojans took control of the game with 3 second quarter scores. Gregoire scored on a 2-yard run, Pennington reached pay dirt from 9 yards and McQuade scored on a 6-yard run as Cary-Grove led 34-0 at halftime.

Cary-Grove needed only a minute and 2 seconds in the third quarter to score when junior speedster Matt Sutherland rambled 48 yards unscathed to give the Trojans their sixth TD in 6 possessions.

That was the end of the day for the Trojan starters.

Reserve Zach Forney scored on a 7-yard run with 5:39 remaining in the game for the Trojans' final score of the day.

Pennington led the Trojans' offense with 158 yards on 21 carries. Gregoire, who ran 8 times for 46 yards with 2 scores, completed 5-of-8 passes for 76 yards.

"We practiced at a faster tempo this week and we thought it was important to score early especially after we left points on the field last week," said Gregoire. "We wanted to loosen up the safeties with the passing game and we did."

George Hartke caught 5 passes for 67 yards for C-G.

The Cary-Grove first team defense shut out the Warriors (2-4, 0-4) and allowed only 56 yards of total offense.

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